Monterey County supervisors set framework for Measure AA spending, direct quarterly allocations and early road projects

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26 affirmed priorities for spending revenues from Measure AA, the countyone-cent sales tax approved by voters earlier in 2025, and directed staff to allocate receipts on a quarterly basis while prioritizing highly visible road and parks projects and new programs.

Supervisors also affirmed three specific, previously referred budget items and asked staff to develop procedures for spending as revenues arrive. "Those budget priorities will be the priorities for the next fiscal year," county staff summarized during the meeting, and the board voted to use quarterly allocations to move money into projects as receipts are collected.

Why it matters: Measure AA was placed on the ballot and promoted to address long-standing infrastructure and service shortfalls in the countyparticularly road maintenance, parks, homelessness response and other county priorities. Voters approved the tax after polling showed strong support for repairing roads and maintaining infrastructure. County leaders said they want early, visible results to maintain public trust and to match the priorities voters identified.

What the board decided and why: The boardfollowing discussion that included budget staff, the county administrative officer and the director of public worksendorsed an ad hoc committeerecommendation that the spending priorities adopted in an earlier 2024 resolution remain the priorities for fiscal year 2025-26. Beginning with fiscal year 2026-27, the board directed that allocations be made on a quarterly basis to match revenue flow and produce early results. The board also adopted guidance that Measure AA revenue should fund new programs and projects and should not be used to cover ongoing commitments.

County staff and department heads told supervisors they have preliminary "early success" proposals ready for the first year of spending, including a proposed secondary-road rehabilitation program focused on unincorporated roads raised by communities in public outreach. Randy Ishii, director of Public Works, said staffworking from preliminary revenue pacing assumptionshad identified candidate roads and an initial proposal roughly in the range of $7.6 million that would not exhaust next fiscal year's receipts.

Money collected and commitments: County staff told the board that receipts are arriving in tranches. The county reported about $2 million in collections for the AprilJune quarter, and later a quarter "true up" was reported to be about $5 million; staff cautioned estimates will firm only after a full year of receipts. The board previously set aside about $4.4 million in the 2025 budget and earlier approved a $1.45 million allocation to fund Axon body cameras for the sheriff, plus $50,000 each for an ag-tech initiative and a blue-economy regional project. At the meeting supervisors and staff noted those earlier commitments are already on the county's books.

Public input and oversight: Public commenters included Director Ishii and representatives of local organizations. Several supervisors and members of the public urged the board to establish a citizens' oversight committee and clear project signage so residents can see where Measure AA dollars are spent. The board asked staff to return with recommended committee language and to build communications materials explaining how projects are selected and which unincorporated roads will be prioritized.

Whatnext: The board's motion instructs staff to use the adopted priorities for fiscal 2025-26, allocate funds quarterly beginning in fiscal 2026-27, and return with implementing language for oversight and project selection. The board also directed staff to preserve flexibility for future budgets while emphasizing early, visible road and park projects for the initial deployment of funds.

Quotations attributable to speakers in the meeting: "Wewe've already spent nearly 5.9 of that money that has not yet come in," Supervisor Lopez said during debate, reflecting board concern over earlier budget commitments relative to early receipts. (Transcript excerpt.)

"This is something that staff have been considering, have been working on," Public Works Director Randy Ishii said, describing early road rehabilitation proposals the department had prepared.

Ending: The board approved the ad hoc committee's recommendations with direction to staff to return with committee and implementation details; supervisors said they expect to revisit allocations annually as revenue patterns become clearer and to publish project-level updates for the public.